CSV Import to Update Name Field on Vendor Record that Has Blank Value When Auto-Generated Numbers for Vendor is Enabled

As per Defect 258696, the Name field ({altname}) on Vendor record is blank when the Autogenerated Number for Vendor Record (Setup > Company > Auto-generated Numbers > Entities tab) is Enabled and marked Allow Override.

The Name field ({altname}) is also not available in field mapping for CSV Import Vendor update and not available on Mass Update fields.


An alternate solution to update the Vendor record that Name {altname} field is the same as the Company Name {companyname} is thru CSV import (to update Vendor records).

Note that it is not possible to Edit the Name {altname} field in the UI, the same way it cannot be updated thru CSV, mass update, script or workflow, being that this is Inline Text by default. I have discovered is that in order for the Name {altname} to match the Company Name {companyname} when Auto-Generated Numbers is turned on with Allow Override = T & Update = T, it needs to be done the other way around.
 
Check the scenario below:

Vendor Record A
Type = Company
Name {altname} = blank
Internal ID = 1
Company Name {companyname} = Vendor ABC

Vendor Record B
Type = Company
Name {altname} = blank
Internal ID = 2
Company Name {companyname} = Moon Corp.

*Export your list of vendor records to show Internal ID, and Company Name
*Assuming that the correct name is Company Name

1. Create a CSV file with the following columns:
 
Internal ID
Company Name

2. Do a CSV import to update Vendor records & map accordingly the following fields:

Internal ID
Company Name

3. Hit Save & Run

Results: Vendor records should now show the following results (using sample shown above):

Vendor Record A
Type = Company
Name {altname} = Vendor ABC
Internal ID = 1
Company Name {companyname} = Vendor ABC

Vendor Record B
Type = Company
Name {altname} = Moon Corp.
Internal ID = 2
Company Name {companyname} = Moon Corp.


The same way, when Auto-Generated Numbers is turned On with Allow Override = T & Update = T, when you create a new Vendor record, the Name {altname} will automatically be the same as what is entered in Company Name {companyname} field.